The idea
is so simple and yet so wide-ranging that it is amazing no one ever thought of it before.
Every song that ever won an Oscarfor the Best Original Song, in chronological
order. This covers most of the history of the Academy Awards -- the first seven
years (1927-1933) there was no award. This way you get an amazing history, not only
of film but of music. Somehow over five disks the world moved from "The
Continental" to "The Streets of Philadelphia."

What's
Good About It?

How many
collections in the world can segue from Dick Powell's "Lullaby of Broadway" to
Isaac Hayes' "Theme From Shaft?" (Shut your mouth...) Music and the movies
have been a happy wedding for generations and this is as good an argument for that fact as
you will find. The sheer amount of brilliant, classic songs are pretty staggering,
everything from "The Way You Look Tonight" to "Over the Rainbow" to
"White Christmas" to "Mona Lisa" to "Moon River" to
"Que Sera, Sera..." It goes on and on. Not only is the quality
fantastic, but the diversity is pretty amazing.

What's
Bad About It?

In such a
diverse collection, it's impossible to get the rights to everything. Because of
this, Rhino did have to use substitute versions of some of the songs, with frankly mixed
results. There are a few that are at least cool, like Bossa Nova queen Astrud
Gilberto's jazzy, swaying version of "The Shadow of Your Smile" (1965 winner
from "The Sandpiper.") Others are disappointing but still make some sense.
No one would ever say they'd rather hear tiny singer Paul Williams' version of
"Evergreen (Love Theme from 'A Star Is Born')" to Barbra Streisand's...
but at least you can take solace in the fact that Williams wrote the song. Same goes
with Giorgio Moroder's versions of "Flashdance (What A Feeling)" and Top Gun's
"Take My Breath Away." Also, while Angela Lansbury's version of
"Beauty & the Beast" and Brad Kane & Lea Salonga's "A Whole New
World (Aladdin's Theme)" are pretty and taken directly from the movies, both are much
better known for their hit versions (also from the movies) by Peabo Bryson with Celine
Dion and Regina Belle. But some of the replacements are just inexplicable... Richie
Havens doing Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia???" Come on...

What's
Missing?

See above
complaint.

PopEntertainment.com
final grade:B

A terrific collection that covers the history of the music.
Not all of the early songs have aged all that well, but that just adds to the charm.
Overall an intoxicating trip through the history of the 20th century.